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Week of 5/22/05
Newman pummels track record
QUALIFYING | CUP SERIES
Full time drivers not making the show include Bobby Hamilton Jr., and Jason Leffler.
10 Elliott Sadler
9 Tony Stewart
8 Mike Bliss
7 Dale Jarrett
6 Kyle Busch
5 Jimmie Johnson
4 Kasey Kahne
3 Matt Kenseth
2 Jeff Gordon
1 Ryan Newman with a speed of 192.988mph, and the only time under the 28 second mark shattering the track record. May 26, 2005
Sears continues to sponsor 'Craftsman' Truck Series
Sears has renewed it's title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series which is one of America’s fastest growing major sports and now No. 3 on cable television.
-more-
Craftsman® Brand Increases Involvement in and Support of NASCAR
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 26, 2005) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that Sears, Roebuck and Co., through its proprietary Craftsman tool brand, has renewed its title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is one of America’s fastest growing major sports properties and now the No. 3 motorsports property on cable television.
“Sears’ outstanding support during the past decade has helped the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series become one of the hottest motorsports properties in America, which continues to draw new fans and provide tremendous value for sponsors and media partners,” said George Pyne, NASCAR chief operating officer. “Craftsman’s commitment, coupled with additional marketing support and in-store exposure from the Sears-Kmart merger, will help take the series to new heights.”
In 2004, 19 of 25 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events experienced increases in the average number of households tuned in. The 2005 season-opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway earned a 2.1 rating on SPEED Channel, up +31% vs. 2004 – the highest rated program in SPEED Channel’s broadcast history. The most recent event, the Quaker Steak and Lube 200 presented by Click It or Ticket at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 20, was the most-watched Series event outside of Daytona on SPEED Channel. Thus far this season, an average of 680,000 households (+16%) and 954,000 viewers (+21%) have tuned in to each NASCAR Craftsman Truck series event.
Under the five-year agreement, Sears will increase its support of the series in national and local advertising, sales promotions, in-store point-of-sale materials and public relations. The Craftsman brand also renews its status as “Official Tools of NASCAR.” Highlights of Craftsman’s enhanced support include:
Additional advertising to promote the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
*Local in-store sales promotions supporting series events
*Support of NASCAR’s diversity programs
*More prominent store signage and presence on product packaging in stores. May 26, 2005
Biffle stays with Roush
Greg Biffle has renewed his contract with Roush Racing and will continue to drive the #16 Ford through 2008. Greg has been with Roush for 8 years now, and spans across all three series including a Craftsman Truck Series and a Busch Series championship. May 26, 2005
Got enough sponsors?
Carl Edwards has yet another sponsor for his #99 Ford. If you are keeping track, Stonebridge Life Insurance will be the primary for Carl at Pocono. This sport is not cheap to compete, so teams are doing everything they can to bring in extra dollars. May 25, 2005
Bruton wants a monorail
Bruton Smith, owner of Lowes Motor Speedway and other high profile tracks has suggested a monorail to be built between the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the speedway. He's already put up $50 million of his own funds to get things going. Only one problem, the HOF hasn't been awarded to Charlotte yet. May 25, 2005
TRACK STATS | LOWES MOTOR SPEEDWAY
The Coca-Cola 600
Distance: 1.5 Mile Oval
Banking/Turns 1-4:24º
Length/Frontstretch: 1,952 ft.
Length/Backstretch: 1,360 ft.
Miles/Laps: 600 mi. = 400 laps
Last year's winner: Jimmie Johnson
Last year's poll sitter: Jimmie Johnson (check this)
Up for grabs: over $6 million dollars May 25, 2005
Rondeau out, Hmiel in for the #8
Pete Rondeau is out as the crew chief of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 Chevrolet. Steve Hmiel will take over in the mean time until a replacement is officially announced. Rondeau stays with DEI in another capacity.
MOORESVILLE, NC -- Effective immediately, Steve Hmiel will serve as interim crew chief on the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, replacing Pete Rondeau.
Richie Gilmore, Vice President of Motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc. stated, “We are capable of consistently winning and are focused on that as a company. We are going to concentrate our efforts on improved results with the number 8 car.”
Steve Hmiel, Technical Director at Dale Earnhardt Inc., will replace Rondeau commencing with this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
“Pete is a valuable asset and has brought a number of innovations to our organization. He will continue to do that in a different capacity and we’re happy that Pete is so strongly dedicated to Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and its success,” Gilmore said.
He concluded, “We have high expectations of how our teams are to perform and we will utilize every resource we have to win races. Our primary objective is to get the 8 and the 15 solidly into the Chase for the Championship and as a company, we’re focusing everything we have at that goal.” May 24, 2005
Johnson shoots for 3peat
Jimmie Johnson has won the last two Coca Cola 600's in a row, and 3 of the last 4 races at Lowes Motor Speedway. He won from the poll last year, but before you make him your pick for this weekend. Keep in mind no one has ever gone to victory lane 3 times in a row. May 24, 2005
Misc. stuff for this weekend
A few miscellaneous things to tell you about. Mike Skinner plans to race the Bill Davis #23 this weekend. Carl Edwards will run in the dirt race at Lowes tonight, and Ricky Rudd will be driving the Air Force paint scheme this Sunday. Kyle Petty is looking to make his 725th career Cup Series start this weekend. He has 8 career wins, with the last coming at Dover in 1995. May 24, 2005
Coke 600 T.V. rundown
ON TV
NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING @ 7 p.m. Thursday on Speed
BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING @ 5 p.m. Friday on Speed
NEXTEL CUP PRACTICE @ 5 p.m. Saturday on Speed
BUSCH SERIES RACING @ 6:30 p.m. Saturday on FX
NEXTEL CUP COCA-COLA 600 from Lowes Motor Speedway @ 5 p.m. Sunday on Fox
All times are eastern
May 24, 2005
Labonte going Busch racing x8
Busch and Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte is going Busch racing in 8 events this year. He'll be driving the #19 Chevrolet sponsored by ConAgra foods, which includes Hunts Ketchup, Banquet Chicken, and Slim Jim. He'll start this weekend at Charlotte as well as Chicago, July 9 (Banquet); Brooklyn, Mich., Aug. 21 (Eckrich), Bristol, Aug. 26 (Hunt’s), Richmond, Sept. 9 (Banquet); Kansas, Oct. 10 (Banquet), Texas, Nov. 6 (Slim Jim), and Phoenix, Nov. 12 (Slim Jim). May 23, 2005
Sour grapes, could cause points problems
A couple of on track tangles this past weekend, could lead to pay back this coming weekend at the Coke 600. The first of which is Brian Vickers using the spin and win on Mike Bliss during the Open. Then of course you have the bad blood that dates back to Daytona and the Gatorade Duels between Kevin Harvick and Joe Nemechek. Although Kevin should check the tape again...we'll see what 600 miles of racing will bring. May 23, 2005
POINT STANDINGS | TRUCK SERIES
5 Dennis Setzer
4 Jimmy Spencer
3 Ricky Craven
2 Bobby Hamilton
1 Ted Musgrave leads by 41 points May 23, 2005
RACE RESULTS | TRUCK SERIES
5 Steve Park
4 Johnny Benson
3 Ted Musgrave
2 Terry Cook
1 Kyle Busch grabs the checkered flag May 23, 2005
Mark Martin wins All Star Challenge
RACE RECAP | OPEN
First up was the Nextel Open, and only the winner would move on to the main event. Mike Bliss had the car to beat, but Brian Vickers was hungry for the win and wrecked Bliss coming to the checkered flag to move on to the All Star Challenge.
Also fans voted Martin Truex Jr. into the main event as well.
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NASCAR NEXTEL ALL STAR CHALLENGE
-In segment 1 Tony Stewart got into the back of Joe Nemecheck and caused a huge wreck involving 10 cars on the front stretch. After the cars settled, Kevin Harvick blamed Nemecheck for the wreck and had words with Joe.
-Mark Martin wins that first segment
-In segment 2 Ryan Newman took the checkered flag
-In the 3rd segment, Ryan Newman got his 12 car loose, and also wrecked his teammate Rusty Wallace
5 Jimmie Johnson
4 Jeff Gordon
3 Brian Vickers grabs 3rd after winning the Open
2 Elliott Sadler battled hard, but came up short
VICTORY LANE
1 Mark Martin had a rocket ship and takes home the $1 million dollars in prize money May 22, 2005
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